Washington, April 07: Signalling a strained relationship with Hamid Karzai, United States has indicated that Afghanistan President’s White House invitation could be withdrawn if he continues with his anti-US rhetoric.
The US would continue to evaluate the statements coming from Karzai and if there is no sign of improvement, the evaluation could result in cancellation of the invitation, a senior Obama administration official said.
President Obama, during his meeting with the Afghan President two weeks ago in Kabul, had invited Karzai to the White House on May 12.
The May 12 meeting as of now was still on, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters.
“I would say that that meeting is still on the schedule as of now,” Gibbs said, but quickly cautioned: “We certainly would evaluate whatever continued or further remarks President Karzai makes as to whether that’s constructive to have such a meeting, sure.”
Observing that Karzai was democratically elected President of Afghanistan, he said: “President Karzai needs to understand, that the safety and security of his country is not going to be gained simply by rooting out or moving extremist threats in certain areas that isn’t ultimately then filled with good governance.
“The President has been clear with President Karzai, going back to last fall, and in numerous meetings and videoconferences since,” he added.
Gibbs said the Obama Administration would want to see Karzai fulfill the commitments that he enunciated both at his inaugural address and at a donors conference in London — those commitments he made not just to his people but to the international community that have invested in ensuring the security of his country.
–PTI